Sobriety checkpoint planned in Summit for Dec. 21

The Summit Police Department will be conducting a sobriety checkpoint within the city limits. Sobriety checkpoints are an effective law enforcement tool involving the stopping of vehicles or a specific sequence of vehicles, at a predetermined fixed location to detect drivers impaired by alcohol and/or other drugs. These operations not only serve as a specific deterrent by arresting impaired drivers who pass through the checkpoints, but more importantly, as a general deterrent to persons who have knowledge of the operation. Sobriety checkpoints increase the perception of the risk of arrest if they are adequately publicized and highly visible to the public.

The key to deterring impaired driving is highly visible enforcement. Prevention and not to arrest is the goal. The research is clear on the effect that highly visible enforcement has on deterring impaired driving. When drivers perceive the risk of being caught is high, their behavior changes immediately. This is the basis of the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Crackdown. The message is simple, direct, relevant and it works—having already influenced many citizens nationwide not to drink and drive. In most cases, reduced staff checkpoints can be as effective as large scale activities in preventing impaired driving if the effort is correctly publicized to increase the perception of being caught.

The checkpoint is scheduled for Dec. 21 between the hours of 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. The checkpoint will be at the intersection of Broad Street and Dayton Road.